Sprinkler-head.



E. M. CHANDLER.

SPRINKLER HEAD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. 1917.

H. 3 f I /xrrem'vr AFT/Z Chandler Patented 00$. 23, 1917;

SPRINKLER-HEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

"Patented Oct. as, ism.

- Application filed March 9, 1917. Serial No. 153,759.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMO M. CHANDLER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of South Norfolk, in the State of Virginia, and United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sprinkler-Heads, of which the followingis a full, clear,and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in sprinkler heads, and the object is to provide a sprinkler head which maybe easily and chea ly manufactured, and will consist of a sma 1 number of parts.

A further object is to provide a sprinkler head having the strut thereof so arranged that the fusible metal holding the same in operative position is subjected to the minimum of stress, and therefore is not liable to perish or yield under stress at temperatures lower than that at which the head is desi ed to blow ofi.

A still further object is to provide means for obtaining a substantial bond between the strut parts by means of the fusible metal.

Another object is to provide a strut so constructed thatthe fusible metal is relieved as far as possible of all stress arising from accidental blows or pressure.

Still another object is to provide 7 a sprinkler head so constructed that the fusible material is located directly in the path of hot gases rising from a fire, and is at the same time protected from accumulation offoreign matter.

A large number of sprinkler heads have been produced in the past which, however, have the disadvantage that the fusible material holding the strut in operative position is subject to such great stress that the metal perishes in a comparatively short time, or if it does not perish, flows under the stress at temperatures lower than that at which the head is designed to blow, thus causing a loosening and leakage at the valve. It has also been found diflicult to obtain a good bond between the strut parts by means of the fusible metal. In many such sprinklers, the fusible material is so located that it is shielded from hot gases and liable to accumulate foreign matter, so that it is slow in action.

According to this invention, the strut is composed of three members, two of which are pivotally connected out of the line of thrust, and a third or key, mounted in one of the first members and exerting considerable leverage over the other to hold them in predetermined position despite thrust. Parts of the members are in superposed relation, and. they may be provided with flanges to embrace and hold the superposed member against displacement by accidental blows or ressure. The key member has an aperture lip, through and around which the fusible material extends, thus securing a very good hold. The strut members project laterally and the fusible material is on the lower side thereof, so as to be exposed. to rising hot gases and at the same time shielded from accumulations of dust, etc.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sprinkler, according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2- 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the strut members separated.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates a body having a threaded neck 12 adapted to screw into the pi e system, and a seat 13 for the reception 0 a valve 14, which with the gasket 15 normally closes the passage 16 through the body and neck. The body is provided with a yoke 17, which carries a deflector 18 in the usual manner, and a strut holding screw 19, which when finally inserted is retained by the pin 20. l

The strut consists of three members 21., 22 and 23, and the fusible holding material, designated 24. The members 21 and 22 are L-shaped, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the bodies of the members being in abutting relation and the feet oppositely directed. The upper member 21 is provided at one end with a recess 25 in which the end of the screw 19 bears, and the lower member is provided with a similar recess 26 in which the raised central part of the valve 14 engages. Slightly to one side of the common axial line of the valve and screw, the member 21 is provided with a rounded ridge or lug 27, which engages in a similarly shaped recess 28 in the member 22, so that the members are in pivotal relation with one anothe r at this point. Preferably, neither the flange 27 nor recess 28 extend entirely across the members in which they occur, so that the members are held by their interengaging parts against separation by force applied in a horizontal direction. To increase the security, the member 21 may be provided with flanges 29 between which the member 22 is embraced. The member 21 is somewhat longer than the member 22, so that the free end of the former projects beyond the latter, and is thickened as at 30 to enable the formation of a recess 31, which may be rounded in its bottom, extending beyond the lower surface of the member 22,

- as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The key memstrut, it will be seen security, a pin 20 gages one ber 23 is engaged at one end in this recess 31, and throughout substantially its entire length is in abutting relation with the lower surface of the member 22. The opposite extremity 32 of the key is turned downwardly or away from the member 22, and is in addition provided with an opening 33, through which the fusible material 24: may flow. To hold the key against displacement in horizontal direction, the edges of the member 22 may be provided with flanges 34 embracing the key.

In the manufacture of the sprinkler heads, the three members of the strut are assembled in their relation shown in Fig. 2, that is to say, with the bodies abutting and the feet oppositely directed, the rib 27 of the member 21 engaging in the recess 28 of the member 22, and the key 23 engaging in the recess 31 of the member 21 and overlapping the end of the member 22, to which it is connected by the fusible material 24. The downturned end of the key enables the fusible material to be retained in sufficient quantity to have the desired strength and bonding effect, this bond being increased by the fusible material flowing through as well as over the key. The strut is handled.

as a unit and inserted in the yoke, one end being seated on the valve and the other secured by screwing down the pin 19 sufficiently tight to hold the valve on its seat against the pressure which the head is designed to withstand. The end of the screw is cut 0d and burred over, and for further inserted to hold same against turnlng.

Considering the points of support of the that the central point or hinge is out of line with the two end supports, so that the strut has constant tendency to fold or buckle in the middle, such movement being accompanied by relative angular movement of the laterally directed body portions. This angular movement, is normally prevented by the key which enmember, and is attached to the other by the fusible material. When the head is subjected to the temperature. at which it is designed to blow ofi, the fusible material melts and releases the key and consequently the members 21 and 22, so that the fluid pressure under the valve causes a folding up or buckling of the strut, which reing in said recess,

' naeaoei leases the valve and permits the escape of water.

From the foregoing description and from the drawings, it will be apparent that the fusible material is subjected to very little stress as it is at the end of levers. The strut although projecting laterally beyond the yoke, and thus deprived of its protection, is nevertheless of such construction that the parts thereof will not be separated by any ordinary accidental blow or pressure, while at the same time the fusible material is so located that it is not shielded from rising hot gases by the body of thesprinkler, nor is it liable to accumulate foreign matter, as would be the case if it were located on a vertical surface or upper surface. The device consists of a small number of easily and cheaply manufactured parts of great simplicity.

Having thus described my invention, what T claim is z- 1. In a sprinkler head, a body, a yoke, a valve, a strut held in compressionbetweenthe yoke and valve comprisingapair of L-shaped members having thebodies thereof in engagement and projecting laterally from the yoke, feet on said bodies oppositely directed and engaging one with the yoke and the other with the valve, said strut members he- I ing pivotally connected out of line with the points of support of the strut, hook on one strut member projecting beyond the end of the other member, a key engaging at one end in said hook and engaging toward its other end with the second strut member, flanges on the first mentioned strut member embracing the second mentioned strut memher, and flanges on the second member embracing the key, and a mass of fusible material securing the key to the second strut member.

2. In .a sprinkler head, a body, a yoke, a valve, a strut comprising a pair of hingeably connected members held in compression between the yoke and valve, said strut members each having a laterally directed fastening portion, a key on the lower side of the strut engaging the laterally directed strut portions and holding them against separation, a mass. of fusible material exposed on the lower side and holding the key to the strut, one of said strut members having a recess extending part way of the strut width, and a rib on the other strut member engagforming' a hinge joint between the members and holding the members against separation by force applied in a horizontal plane.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ELMO M. CHANDLER. 

